How to Mount a Finished Watercolor Painting onto Canvas

[@GuardianAngelWatcher]

This is the most helpful art content I’ve ever come across here on YT. Thank you so much for sharing!!!

[@realisticart]

Thanks Angela! Glad it was helpful!

[@Emily-gh9zb]

Thank you so much for your generous and insightful presentation. I have been trying to figure out how to mount and present large watercolors without framing and your detailed and precise video is a life-saver!

[@realisticart]

Thanks Emily!

[@56sleepy]

What an amazing video. I could not conceive how one could get a water color painting to adhere to linen, as well as be safe and protected. Your attention to detail is so refreshing and inspiring. Have to admit that I held my breath a few times early on. As a lover of green in nature and verdant ponds overall, your art almost moves me to tears. Simply gorgeous. Thank you this.

[@mandalayard774]

I've never seen a video like this, thank you so much for making it! I usually create works on paper, not canvas, and it is tough to find information on post creation sealant, mounting etc. This was exactly what I was looking for.

[@parisasun2541]

Absolutely excellent. Step by step - excellent clear explanations and demonstration !

[@alindastar4297]

Meticulous, brilliant, and beautiful once again. This video is pregnant with tips and techniques for the artist from a True Artist, thank you, Mr. Barbera.

[@kathyvangogh4034]

THANK YOU!! I am brand new to watercolour and all of this is so very valuable. You have saved me hundreds of hours of failures. Very grateful for you sharing your technical know-how. And my Gawd, your paintings are jaw-droppingly gorgeous!.

[@lindawilson7421]

Beautiful painting!

[@margaretbailey1445]

Thank you so much. Your process is wonderful. I have done this before and had trouble. Thank you again!

[@sidewalkmantra]

Thank you for posting this- I was troubled by how to present some of my large works on paper but will try a variation of what you have suggested!

[@catherine9774]

I learned a lot. Thank you so much.

[@jude1515]

Your paintings are beautiful!! Great tutorial

[@lindawilson7421]

Do u have a tutorialon how u painted this beautiful lainting?

[@barbarag7831]

I don’t understand. Why would you varnish before the painting is complete? You sprayed the stargazer lily. Is it possible to finish after varnishing, or did you ruin the painting just to demonstrate the varnishing process☹️?

[@realisticart]

Thank you for your question! When I first read your comment, I thought, "I would never do that," because a watercolor painting shouldn't be varnished until it is completely finished. After reviewing the video, I understand the confusion. At the 6:38 mark, I abruptly transitioned from discussing the varnishes I use to repositioning an unfinished rubrum lily watercolor painting. That was a very confusing segue! I wish I had caught this mistake when I originally made the video eight years ago. I apologize for the confusion and will clarify this in the video's description. Additionally, I recently posted a video titled Mounting a Watercolor Painting onto a Panel: A Step-by-Step Guide! You might find it helpful. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaK2eGmtma-osK8. Thank you again for your feedback-I truly appreciate it!

[@barbarag7831]

Thank you for your reply and for the link to a more recent video, which I will definitely watch! I hadn't realized this one was 8 years old.

[@realisticart]

@@barbarag7831 I hope you find my new video, “Mounting a Watercolor Painting onto a Panel: A Step-by-Step Guide,” helpful! I also plan to post a couple more videos on this topic in the coming months. Thank you for watching!

[@maldoori238]

Fantastic video and instructions. Very informative and useful information. Thank you for sharing.

[@conniegifford9790]

Fantastic video as always- love your beautiful watercolors and your teaching style! Thanks so much for sharing all the details :-)

[@realisticart]

Thanks Connie! I appreciate your positive feedback!

[@jenniferangell2630]

This was excellent. Since I also want to use only water-based medium and varnishes, I found two Golden products . One is Golden Gloss Medium, the other Golden Acrylic Polymer Varnish. Which one are you recommending? Thank you!

[@sullyduke]

Thank you for sharing this!! Much appreciate you sharing all your knowledge!

[@realisticart]

Thanks for watching my new instructional video! Hope it is helpful!

[@KMayflower]

Oh my gosh, Bernie Sanders did the voice over... :-) Great video, so many good options!

[@donnamarie1006]

Good one...LOL !

[@marianoshaughnessy]

Would this work with 200 or 300# watercolor paper?

[@jamiekunz3761]

Once again an excellent tutorial, thank you!

[@realisticart]

Glad you liked it Jamie! Hope my new video is helpful!

[@luemoonba]

Thank you so much. I've never tried this but now I will.

[@realisticart]

Familiarize yourself with the process by trying it out on a test piece first! Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

[@tachinajohnson7003]

Thank you 😊

[@KristiCCz]

I used this video to mount a graphite piece onto a 12x12 canvas, as required for a show. It went well, although my artist's eye found all kinds of flaws. I guess that's to be expected when you try something new. First: the graphite smeared a bit when I applied the first layer of spray varnish. Then I applied too much spray adhesive to the back, and was wrestling with an excessively sticky piece and rigid substrate for the rest of the process, which in turn caused a couple of small stains on the front of the piece. Last, because I was using a small, pre-stretched canvas, i ended up getting bubbles under the surface, which was a challenge. The piece was happily accepted, so the flaws can't be too bad, and I'm definitely going to do it again.

[@randym1317]

Great information thanks. Is there a reason you use gloss instead of mat finish it seemed some of the paintings reflected like glass. Have you ever tried mat? Again very useful information thanks.

[@realisticart]

Hi Randy, The first coats of varnish that I apply are always gloss and never matte. I do occasionally apply a top coat of removable matte varnish that is usually modified with a quantity of clear removable varnish to adjust the degree of the matte finish. The photo of the yellow orchid painting that you see at the beginning of the video does show lots of glare, but in actuality there was very little glare at the normal viewing angle. Thanks for watching!

[@MyShepherdLeadsMe]

But can you tell us WHY you choose gloss vs matte? I just bought varnish for my first attempt at varnishing watercolor. I chose matte because the description said it was for watercolor (Amazon). But when the product arrived the label on the can of spray varnish recommended their gloss product over their matte product for watercolor paintings. But it did not say why.

[@realisticart]

The first coats of varnish should be a permanent isolation coat that is absolutely clear. Its purpose is to protect the painting and not alter the colors. When applying a waterbased varnish to watercolor, you must spray on the first coat because brushing it on would damage the painting, and Liquitex makes a Gloss Varnish that is available as a spray. Matte varnish should only be applied as a removable, top UV protecting layer. To make a clear acrylic polymer varnish matte, silicates are usually added to the varnish so that when the varnish dries it has a slightly frosted surface. This is why you would never want to apply permanent matte medium to your painting. That would dull the look of your watercolor painting. In my most recent work I only use gloss varnish, usually applying 3 layers of permanent gloss varnish, and 2 top layers of Golden removable Polymer Varnish. Often I wait a few weeks before applying the removable varnish.

[@MyShepherdLeadsMe]

Thanks this helps me a lot.

[@linzhangfreund3786]

Hos to paintball hibiskus

[@jaydee9953]

Thx !! Bernie !

[@Chaiyotartist]

good

[@barbmunday3920]

Could you attach a watercolor painting onto a prepared canvas if you didn’t want to to the stretching part?

[@marianoshaughnessy]

I want to know this too. Did you try it Barb?

[@joannaskor316]

Your worrk is gorgeous but I really dislike the torn edges and the ugly color of the canvas but the idea of mounting on canvas I do like. but without the canvas being visible.

[@gaelhillyardcreative]

Gael Hillyard2 minutes ago No wonder the planet is such a mess. What a wasteful process. Just learn how to use a equipment such as rulers properly instead of unnecessary amounts of new plastic sheeting and other materials.

[@gaelhillyardcreative]

PS Your painting is off centre slightly.

[@utube1928]

These techniques are irreversible but may work for some artists but it is important to read the "small print". If you only buy artist quality paints and avoid fugitive colors does it make sense to finish it this way? I have done framing professionally and there are reasons watercolors have been framed under glass (with a spacer between the glass and the art), do research on that as well. I would encourage you to go to Golden's website and read their page on using their mediums on watercolors so you can do so with an understanding of what happens to your art. Be informed before you start. Maybe it would be best used on Giclee prints of your work. From Golden Artist Colors website VARNISHING WATERCOLORS with GOLDEN PRODUCTS CAUTION:The varnishing of watercolor paintings is a non-reversible addition to the artwork that will permanently change both the nature and appearance of the piece. Understanding these issues as well as performing application testing is critical before applying any varnish to a watercolor painting. Gamblin sells Cold Wax medium but does not have anything on their website about use on the top of watercolors.

[@fenix310]

The back of the canvas is hideous